Method of capping containers and product thereof



G. W. BOOTH A ri124, 1934.

RS AND PRODUCT'THEREOF METHOD OF CAPPING CONTAINE Original Filed'June 7.1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 24, 1934. 3 w BOOTH 1,956,210

METHOD OF CAPPING CONTAINE RS AND PRODUCT THEREOF Original Filed June 7,1952 3 Sheets-She t 2 Geo/ya I 5007%- I v I G. W. BOOTH April 24,1934.

METHOD OF CAPPING CONTAINERS AND PRODUCT THEREOF Original Filed June 7,1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 G'eqrge W. 500777 Patented Apr. 24, 1934 NITED.STATES METHOD OF CAPPING CONTAINERS AND PRODUCT THEREOF George W. Booth,Baltimore, Md., assignor to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore,

Md, a corporation of New York Application June 7, 1932, Serial No.615,915 Renewed January 17, 1934 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved method of applying closuresto containers and the product thereof, and more especially to animprovement upon the invention covered in my copending application,Serial No. 553,464, filed July 27, 1931.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method for applyingand securing a threaded closure to a container, so as to effect-ivelyseal and protect the contents thereof.

A further object is to provide a method for initially applying a closurein blank form to a container and shaping the same to screw threaded formto conform to the outer perimeter of the neck of the container so as toinsure a maximum sealing engagement therewith and protect against dustand contamination of the surface over which the contents of thecontainer is poured.

Another object of the invention is to provide means on the neck of thecontainer arranged to coact with complementary means formed on theclosure during its application to the container to permit the closure tobe subsequently detached from and reapplied to the container and insurea positive sealing engagement of the parts when the closure is appliedto the container.

A further object consists in afiording a new and improved method ofapplying a closure of ductile material to a container provided with 39thread-like locking means. The method consists in initially positioningthe closure or disc in blank form over the container mouth, and thensubjecting the same to pressure outwardly and downwardly over thesealing lip, sufficiently to cause the ductile metal to assume the shapeof the container and to flow into locking engagement with a lockingmeans, such as a spiral rib or groove or the like in the neck of thecontainer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in which is shown preferred embodiments of theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the closure shown in the form of a disc andwith the upper layer partly cut away for the purpose of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the closure shown in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a View similar to modified form of closure.

Fig. 2 showing a Fig. 4 is a side view of the upper portion ofacontainer made in accordance with the invention. Fig. 5 is a plan viewof the container shown in Fi 4.

Fig. 6 isa side elevational view of the container shown in Fig. 4 withthe cap applied.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the container shown in Fig. 8 withthe cap applied.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the form shown inFig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the initial step in applying theclosure to a container.

Fig. 12 illustrates an intermediate step in the application of. theclosure to a container, and

Fig. 13 shows the final position of the closure.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts inthe several views, the closure10 (Fig. 1) is preferably made of thinductile material, such as sheet metal or the like.

The closure or can while shown of disc shape may be of any suitableconfiguration or size, so that when applied in blank form to the mouthof the container 11 and subjected to pressure, the margin thereof willbe ironed or drawn over the lip of the container into circumferentialcontinuous sealing engagement with the container lip 12.

The closure 10 may have connected thereto by any suitable binder, afacing 13 (Fig. 2) to provide a suitably impervious, resilient andnoncorrosive surfacefor contacting with the lip 12. This facing 13 maybe formed of any suitable material,- such as parchment, Cellophane,cellulosic material, rubber compounds, or cork composition, dependingupon the chemical properties of the contents of the container.

For example, the neck 12' of the container may be provided externallywith a spiral groove or thread 14 which extends from the mouth or lip 12a limited distance downwardly. Obviously, this means may take otherforms, such as, for example, the discontinuous or divided thread of myco-pending application, Serial No. 615,916, filed June '7, 1932.

The neck 12' of the container is provided with a means for effecting alocking engagement with the closure as in the invention of my copendingapplication above referred'to. But, in the present instance, I provide alocking means in the form of inclined or spiral threads 14 (Fig. 4),which, upon turning movement of the cap, will tend to lift the same, andalso preferably efiect locking engagement of the cap upon reverseturning movement when the cap is reapplied.

In'Figs. 6 and 7, thecap' 10 is shown applied the marginal portion orskirt 15 closely flts over the lip 12 of the container to provide amaximum sealing surface which is continuous circumferentially andextends a substantial distance outwardly and downwardly over thelip 12.The cap 10 is formed with the spiral rib 16 which extends into thecomplementary groove 14 for securing the closure to the container andpermitting its subsequent removal or attachment thereto. Additionally,the edge of the skirt 15 is crimped or corrugated as at 17 (Fig. 6) tocause the skirt to yieldably engage the adjacent surface 'of the neck.The crimps 17 are formed from the blank when the latter is being appliedto the container, as distinguished from the preformed corrugations orflutes heretofore formed in the skirts of a cap of the usual crown type.This distinction will be evident from the method of applying the cap tothe container, as hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 11, the cap or closure 10 in blank form, is positionedover the mouth of the bottle 11 and is fed thereto by a suitable cappingmachine 18 which has a ledge 19 formed in a guide or annulus 20 thatsupports the marginal portion 15 of the cap. A spindle 22 reciprocablymounted in the capping machine has operatively connected thereto apresser tool 23 which is of slightly larger diameter than the innerdiameter of the mouth 21 of the bottle 11 and is arranged to bearyieldably against the blank disc 10 through the instrumentality of thespring 24, to insure a, proper centering of the closure or disc 10 uponthe container and a close contact between the undersurface of thecontainer and the top surface or perimeter of the bottle mouth.

While the intermediate portion of the disc, that is to say, the surfacebetween the mouth 21 of the bottle, is maintained in firm engagementtherewith by the presser tool 23, that portion of the disc between themargin 15 and the presser tool 23 is arranged to be uniformly drawnoutwardly and downwardly to be .ironed over the curved surface of thelip in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 12. During this ironingoperation, the marginal portion or edge 15 of the closure remainssupported by the ledge 19 so as to insure a gradual or progressivedeflection of the closure along the surface of the, container lip, asdistinguished from a bodily bending of the same from the point ofinitial application of pressure outwardly to its edge.

This ironing and drawing of the metal to form the closure skirt ispreferably accomplished by means of a bending throat 25 formed of aplurality of segmental strips 26 which surround the presser tool 23. Iprefer a throat of the character disclosed and claimed in my copendingappli-. cation Serial No. 553,462, filed July 27, 1931, and which willhere be briefly described.

Each of the segmental strips 26 has at its upper end an outwardlydirected flange 27 formed with a beveled surface 28 which is arranged tobear against a follower plate 29. Relative movement of the plate 29 andcontainer 11 toward each other acts to force the continuous anduncorrugated lower edge 30 of each segment against the adjacent surfaceof the closure 10 so as to draw the metal thereof outwardly anddownwardly. The metal is smooth over the surface of the lip 12 and iscaused to flow into the spiral groove 14 by the pressure imparted to theskirt 15 by the throat 25. This forms the complementary spiral rib 16.(Fig. 13) which permits the subsequent removal or attachment of theclosure to the container by relative turning movement of the cap andclosure.

The segments 26 are collectively supported at their upper ends within atubular housing 34 by means of a ring 31 against which the outer edge ofthe flanges 27 engage to constitute a fulcrum bearing, which permits theindependent movement of the segments in order that they may conform toany irregularity or variation in diameters of the container mouths ornecks. A coil spring 32 surrounds the segments 26 and is confinedbetween the end flanges 27 and 33 to yieldably hold the segments incontacting engagement with each other while permitting relative movementbetween the segments when they encounter resistance during the operationof applying the closure to the container. The segments 26 have a slightlongitudinal taper and the, throat normally enlarges upwardly (Fig. 11)so that the diameter of the throat 25 is less at its lower end 30 thanat its upper end. This variation in diameter reduces thecontact betweenthe inner surface of the segments and the cap 10 with the result thatsubstantially the entire ironing-action is produced by the lower edge30. 1

When the presser tool 23 is yieldably maintained against the closure orcap 10 and the marginal portion 15 of the cap is supported by the ledge19, relative movement between the con-' tainer 11 and the bending throat25 may be effected either by moving the container upwardly or moving thethroat downwardly, such movement being permitted due to the yielding ofthe spring 24 which allows the-presser tool to move upwardly within thethroat 25.

The, flnal position of the closure when applied by the capping machineto the container is shown in Fig. 14, and it will be understood thatrelative movement between the throat 25 and closure 10 results in theprogressive ironing and drawing of the metal of the closure outwardlyand downwardly toward the edge of the closure until the free marginalportion thereof is disengaged from the ledge 19 and distorted to formthe skirt 15. Under this drawing and ironing action, the marginalportion of the skirt automatically buckles to form the corrugations 17which yieldably press against the adjacent surface of the container.

It will be observedirom Fig. 13 that the corrugations or crimps 17formed by this buckling action are at all times free from engagementwith the throat 25 which is spaced therefrom at its lower edge 30. Inother words, the inner surface of the throat 25 contacts only with theupper and intermediate portions of the skirt 15. Consequently, themarginal portion of the cap will buckle against the adjacent surface ofthe finish of the container simply by reason of the bending and drawingpressure applied around the container mouth inwardly from the edge ofthe closure disc. This ironing and bending pressure automaticallyproduces a buckling of the free edge of the marginal portion of theclosure without engagement of the throat 25 therewith.

Obviously, the closure may vary as to size and shape so as to be appliedto containers, such as milk bottles or the like of different sizes. Asthe skirt 15 is formed and applied to the container by uniform ironingand bending pressure, it will insure the provision of a sealingengagement of maximum area with the mouth and neck of the container andwill readily conform itself to any irregularities in the shape of thecontainer.

In order to provide a surface for permitting the-convenient centering ofthe cap upon the container, the blank 33 (Fig. 3) may be provided with acentral depressed portion 34 which, when thecap is applied to thecontainer, forms a receiving seat for the container lip.

As shown in Fig. 8 the neck 35 of the container is preferably formedexternally thereof with a double spiral thread or groove 36, 36 intowhich the skirt portion 37 of the cap 38 flows to form a complementaryrib in substantially the same manner as the rib 16 previously described.,It will be seen, however, that due to the double thread, that the cap,when once applied to the container, may be more quickly removed from thecontainer since only a half turn (180) is required. Moreover, thecontainer may be provided beneath the grooves 36, 36' with an annulargroove 39 adapted to receive the buckled free edge 40 of the skirt 37(Fig. 10).

This yieldable engagement in the groove 39, of course, is immediatelyovercome upon the application of turning pressure applied to the capwhen it is desired to remove the same from the container. As the loweredge of the skirt will extend into the recess 39, operation of theclosure may be effected without the hands coming into contact therewith.

It will be seen that a closure made in accordance with the presentinvention is especially suited for use in capping bottles or the like,since it not only insures complete protection of the container mouthfrom dust and contamination,

but also provides a sanitary seal which precludes the possibility ofgerms or dirt entering the bottle. Moreover, the hermetical seal formedwhen the closure is initially applied to the container insures thecontent retaining its pure and fresh condition. Since the cap may beconveniently removed or again applied to the container by a turningmovement, no opening instrumentality is required while the danger ofspilling and wasting the contents in attempting to remove the cap, iscompletely eliminated.

It is, of course, to be understood that the forms of the inventionherewith shown and described are merely illustrative of preferredembodiments and that such changes may be made therein as fall within thepurview of one skilled in the art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: n

1. The improved method of capping a container having an inclined grooveformed externally in the neck thereof, which consists in positioningover the mouth of the container a closure of ductile material and oflarger area than the overall area of the container mouth and ironing theclosure over the container lip by applying pressure beginning inwardlyfrom the edge of the closure outwardly and downwardly sufficiently tocause the ductile material to flow into the groove and form acomplementary rib, whereby the closure is detachably connected to thecontaine mouth. 7

2. A new and improved method of capping a container having an extemal'inclined groove around the mouth thereof which consists in positioningover the mouth a closure blank of ductile material and of largerdiameter than the container mouth and ironing the closure over thecontainer lip by applying pressure inwardly from the edge of the closureuniformly around the container mouth and progressively continuing thesame outwardly and downwardly sufliciently to cause the ductile materialto flow into said groove the closureover the container lip sufiicientlyto cause the ductile material to flow into the groove and form acomplementary rib therewith, whereby the closure may be readily removedfrom or applied to the container.

4. A new and improved method of capping a container having an externalspiral groove around the mouth thereof, which consists in positioningover the mouth a closure blank of ductile material and of largerdiameter than the container mouth and applying pressure inwardly fromthe edge of the closure uniformly around the container mouth andprogressively continuing the same outwardly and downwardly sufiicientlyto cause the ductile material adjacent the spiral groove to flow thereinand forma complementary spiral rib.

5. The method of applying a removable closure to a container having anexternal spiral groove around the mouth thereof which consists inpositioning over the mouth a closure blank of substantially flat ductilematerial and of larger '105 diameter than the container mouth, applyingpressure inwardly from the edgeof the closure uniformly around thecontainer mouth and progressively continuing the same outwardly anddownwardly sufliciently to cause the ductile material adjacent thespiral groove to flow therein and form a spiral rib complementary tosaid groove.

6. The improved method of applying a detachable cap to a containerhaving an inclined groove formed in the neck thereof, which consists inpositioning over the container mouth a closure of ductile materialhaving a depressed centering portion arranged to fit on the containerlip, said closure being of larger area than the overall area of thecontainer mouth and applying pressure outwardly and downwardly beginninginwardly from the edge of the closure to cause the ductile materialadjacent the groove to flow therein and form a complementary rib.

7. The improved method of capping a container having an inclined grooveformed externally around the mouth thereof, which consists inpositioning over the mouth a closure of ductile material and of largerdiameter than the container mouth, supporting the closure along its edgeand while supporting its edge applying inwardly theresuficient todistort the ductile material to conform to the lip, progressivelycontinuing the ironing pressure outwardly toward the edge over-thecontainer lip sufiiciently to cause the supported edge portion to bedisengaged from its support and to flow into the groove to form a ribcomplementary therewith.

8. The improved method of capping a container having a spiral grooveformed externally around the mouth thereof, which consists inpositioning over the mouth a closure of ductile material and of largerarea than the container mouth, supporting the closure along its edge andwhile supporting its edge applying inwardly therefrom over the containerlip an iron ng pressure sufficient to distort the ductile material toconform to the lip, progressively continuing the ironing pressureoutwardly toward theedge over the container lip from over the containerlip an ironing pressure V sufllciently to cause the supported edgeportion to be disengaged from its support and the material of theclosureto flow into the groove to form a rib complementary thereto, and themargin to buckle against the container whereby the closure maysubsequently be detachably connected to the container, v

9. The improved method of applying a removable cap to a container havingan inclined groove formed externally around the mouth thereof whichconsists in positioning over the mouth a closure blank of ductilematerial having a diameter larger than the container mouth, applyingpressure to the closure inwardly fromits edge over the container lipinwardly from the edge of the closure and continuing the ironingpressure outwardly and downwardly toward the closure edge sufilcientlyto cause the ductile material to flow into the groove and form acomplementary rib and the margin of the closure to buckle against thecontainer neck, while maintaining the buckle portion free of ironingpressure, whereby the closure may be detachably connected to the contaner.

10. The improved method of applying a removable cap to a containerhaving a spiral groove formed around the mouth thereof, which consistsin positioning over the mouth a closure blank of ductile material andhaving an ofiset centering portion arranged to engage the lip of thecontaner, said blank being of larger diameter than the container mouth,applying pressure to the closure inwardly from its edge to efiect asealing engagement with the container "lip and simultaneously supportingthe free edge of the closure and ironing the closure over the containerlip by direct application of ironing pressure over the lip andcontinuing the ironing pressure outwardly and downwardly over the liptoward the edge of the closure sufficiently to cause the-ductilematerial to fiow into the spiral groove and form a rib complementarythereto and the edge to buckle against the container.

11. The improved method of capping a container having an inclined grooveformed in the container mouth and an annular recess beneath said groovewhich consists in positioning over the mouth a closure blank of ductilematerial of larger diameter than the container mouth, applying pressureinwardly from the edge of the closure uniformly around the containermouth and progressively continuing the same outwardly and downwardlysufliciently to cause the ductile material to flow into the groove andform a complementary spiral rib and to buckle along its edge intoyielding engagement in said recess.

12. The improved method of capping a container having a continuousspiral groove formed externally in the neck thereof, which consists inpositioning above the mouth of the container a closure blank of ductilematerial and of larger diameter than the container mouth, and ironingthe closure "over the container lip by applying pressure beginninginwardly from the edge of the closure and continuing outwardly uniformlyaround the container mouth to cause the ductile material to flow intothe groove and form a complementary rib whereby the closure maysubsequently be detachably connected to the container mouth.

13. The improved method of cappin a container having a continuous spiralgroove formed in the container mouth and an annular recess beneath saidgroove, which consists in positioning over the mouth of the container aclosure of ductile material and of larger diameter than the containermouth and ironing the closure over the container lip by applyingpressure beginning inwardly and continuing outwardly and down-' wardlysufiiciently to cause the ductile material to fiow into the spiralgroove and form a complementary rib therewith and its lower edge tobuckle 100 and yieldably engage in said annular recess whereby theclosure may be detachably connected to the container.

14. In combination with a container having an inclined groove around itsmouth, a cap of ductile 105 material having a top portion over saidmouth and a depend'ng skirt provided with a complementary rib formed inthe capping operation and engaging said groove, the marginal portion ofthe skirt being buckled.

15. In combination with a container having around its mouth a continuousspiral groove extending from the upper surface to an intermediateportion thereof, a cap of ductile material having atop positioned oversaid mouth and a 115 depending skirt, said skirt having a complementaryspiral rib conformed to said groove by ironing therein during thecapping operation, the marginal portion of the skirt being crimped toprovide indentations.

16. In combination with a container having around its mouth an inclinedgroove and an annular recess beneath said groove, a cap of ductilematerial having a top positioned over said mouth and 2, depending skirt,said skirt hav- 125 ing a complementary spiral rib conformed to saidgroove by ironing therein during the capping operation, the marginalportion of the skirt being crimped to provide indentations whichyieldably engage in the recess. 3

GEORGE W. BOOTH.

